Long-distance is challenging for most couples, but creating true relationship security takes work ... More and personal accountability. Heres what can make all the difference.gettyAs any long-distance couple will likely tell you, a lot goes into bridging the gap and nurturing and sustaining their love. Whether its consistently staying up for phone calls at odd hours, saving for months to fly to each other or making sure their affection translates to the other person online, these couples arguably have to work harder than most at keeping their connection strong.Apart from the intentional effort that goes into it, certain internal factors also play a prominent role in the direction the relationship will take. In the end, how you treat and relate to your partner determines the true health of your connection, no matter the distance.A new study published this March in Personal Relationships examined these factors among both interracial and intraracial couples in long-distance relationships.Here are two essential factors that influence long-distance connections, according to the study.1. Your Ability To Truly Understand Your PartnerResearchers suggest that Partner Reflective Functioning (Partner RF) plays a crucial role in long-distance connections. This refers to the ability to understand and interpret a romantic partners behaviors in the context of their thoughts, emotions and experiences. This ability is crucial in maintaining emotional closeness, particularly in long-distance relationships, where nonverbal cues and in-person interactions are limited.Romantic partners do not have complete knowledge of one anothers histories. Thus, each member of the romantic dyad must use their knowledge of their romantic partner, and different sources of information to make educated guesses and inquiries about their partners mental state, the researchers explain.Heres how this ability can benefit long-distance couples:Understanding a partners mental state. Engaging in high partner reflecting functioning means being able to consider what your partner may be thinking or feeling even when they are not physically present. For example, after a frustrating conversation, a partner with high reflective functioning might reflect on whether their significant other had a stressful day at work or was feeling emotionally distant due to personal reasons, rather than assuming disinterest.Navigating miscommunication and uncertainty. In long-distance relationships, where text messages and video calls replace in-person communication, misunderstandings are more common. A partner with strong reflective functioning can recognize that a delayed response doesnt necessarily mean their partner is becoming distant or losing interest, but could be due to external factors such as work stress or time zone differences. This ability reduces unnecessary anxiety and sustains trust within the relationship.Enhancing emotional intimacy. By mentalizing considering their partners inner world individuals can deepen their emotional connection. This is especially important in interracial long-distance relationships, where partners may have different cultural perspectives and life experiences. A strong ability to engage in partner RF allows individuals to ask questions, express curiosity about their partners experiences and appreciate their unique viewpoints rather than making assumptions about how they feel.As the researchers poignantly explain, Individuals in interracial romantic relationships may have customs, beliefs or assumptions regarding relationships that do not align with their partners. Without a shared ethnoracial background to draw upon, it is especially important that they attempt to understand their perspective to avoid being insensitive, discriminatory or invalidating.For instance, a White partner may find it difficult to understand a Black partners mental states in response to minoritized experiences (e.g., discrimination, microaggressions) that they are not familiar with, they add, highlighting a prime example of the importance of partner RF in interracial long-distance couples.2. Your Attachment StyleAttachment styles, which develop early in life based on interactions with primary caregivers, play a crucial role in shaping how individuals experience and maintain romantic relationships and according to the researchers, in partner reflective functioning.Researchers focused on how three primary attachment styles influence long-distance relationships, analysing how individuals with different styles interact with their partners across physical and emotional gaps.Heres what their research suggests:Secure attachment. Individuals with a secure attachment style generally experience trust, stability and confidence in their relationships. They are comfortable with both emotional closeness and independence, which can be beneficial in long-distance relationships. Because they dont require constant reassurance from their partners, theyre likely to handle time apart more effectively, focusing on meaningful communication rather than giving into excessive worry or doubt. Securely attached individuals are also more likely to engage in open and honest discussions about their needs, which strengthens the relationship despite physical separation.Anxious attachment. Those with an anxious attachment style crave closeness and reassurance but often fear abandonment and rejection. This can lead to heightened distress in a long-distance relationship, as the lack of immediate physical presence may intensify fears of rejection or disinterest. Individuals high in attachment anxiety may overanalyze messages, seek constant reassurance and feel emotionally dysregulated when their partner is not immediately available. This can create cycles of miscommunication and strain on the relationship, making it difficult for both partners to feel secure.Avoidant attachment. People with avoidant attachment strongly prioritize independence and may struggle with emotional intimacy. In long-distance relationships, they may minimize communication or emotional expression, possibly viewing distance as a relief rather than a challenge to overcome. Their reluctance to express vulnerability can make their partner feel unimportant or emotionally disconnected, leading to frustration and misaligned expectations, particularly if their partner has a more anxious attachment style.Most importantly, researchers found that especially in interracial long-distance relationships, attachment anxiety and avoidance are associated with lower partner reflective functioning, while attachment security is associated with a greater ability to understand and relate to a partners behavior and mental state.This suggests that security in attachment might feed the emotional curiosity and adaptability needed to bridge cultural and physical distance, and the good news is, attachment security can always be cultivated and enhanced.Partners high in attachment security may perceive differences within the relationship as a cue or invitation to lean in, ask more questions and become more curious about their partner, the researchers write.In contrast, highly anxious individuals may become overly focused on their own fears of rejection rather than genuinely considering their partners emotional state, leading to misinterpretations and frequent emotional distress.Meanwhile, highly avoidant individuals may dismiss the importance of understanding their partners emotions, leading to emotional disconnect. Interracial long-distance relationships may experience additional challenges due to cultural differences, requiring even greater emotional awareness and communication skills.Specifically, communication that occurs without nonverbal cues, such as texting, may need to be reduced, whereas communication over the phone or video may allow individuals to use nonverbal cues to engage in higher levels of partner RF, the researchers recommend.In the end, maintaining a successful relationship, long-distance or otherwise, involves cultivating a deep sense of curiosity and willingness to learn about your partner throughout your relationship.Such emotional attunement requires a fair amount of inner work attending to your own needs, healing inner wounds and being able to extend that compassion and empathy to your partner by creating space for their inner world. This allows both partners to meet in the middle from a place of healing, empowering them to be true partners to one another, regardless of the distance.Can you understand and empathize with your partners experiences and perspectives? Take the science-backed Cognitive Empathy Scale to find out.

Imagine a system enabling transportation agencies to access and present roadway data more comprehensively and visually.

Elon Musks polygonal pickup is a polarizing sales flop that's missed the billionaires volume goal by a staggering 84%. And theres no sign that things are improving.The list of famous auto industry flops is long and storied, topped by stinkers like Fords Edsel and exploding Pinto and General Motorss unsightly Pontiac Aztek crossover SUV. Even John Deloreans sleek, stainless steel DMC-12, iconic from its role in the Back To The Future films, was a sales dud that drove the company to bankruptcy.Elon Musks pet project, the dumpster-driving Tesla Cybertruck, now tops that list.After a little over a year at market, sales of the 6,600-pound vehicle, priced from $82,000, are laughably below what Musk predicted. Its lousy reputation for qualitywith eight recalls in the past 13 months, the latest for body panels that fall offand polarizing look made it a punchline for comedians. Unlike past auto flops that just looked ridiculous or sold badly, Musks truck is also a focal point for global Tesla protests spurred by the billionaires job-slashing DOGE role and MAGA politics.Its right up there with Edsel, said Eric Noble, president of consultancy CARLAB and a professor at ArtCenter College of Design in Pasadena, California (Tesla design chief Franz von Holzhausen, who styled Cybertruck for Musk, is a graduate of its famed transportation design program). Its a huge swing and a huge miss.I do zero market research whatsoever. Judged solely on sales, Musks Cybertruck is actually doing a lot worse than Edsel, a name thats become synonymous with a disastrous product misfire. Ford hoped to sell 200,000 Edsels a year when it hit the market in 1958, but managed just 63,000. Sales plunged in 1959 and the brand was dumped in 1960. Musk predicted that Cybertruck might see 250,000 annual sales. Tesla sold just under 40,000 in 2024, its first full year. Theres no sign that volume is rising this year, with sales trending lower in January and February, according to Cox Automotive.And Teslas overall sales are plummeting this year, with deliveries tumbling 13% in the first quarter to 337,000 units, well below consensus expectations of 408,000. The company did not break out Cybertruck sales, which is lumped in with the Model S and Model X, its priciest segment. But its clear Cybertruck sales were hurt this quarter by the need to make recall-related fixes, Ben Kallo, an equity analyst for Baird, said in a research note. Tesla didnt immediately respond to a request for comment.The quarterly slowdown underscores the fact that when it comes to the Cybertruck, results are nowhere near the billionaire entrepreneurs carnival barker claims.Demand is off the charts, he crowed during a results call in November 2023, just before the first units started shipping to customers. We have over 1 million people who have reserved the car.In anticipation of high sales, Tesla even modified its Austin Gigafactory so it could produce up to 250,000 Cybertrucks a year, capacity investments that arent likely to be recouped.They didn't just say they wanted to sell a lot. They capacitized to sell a lot, said industry researcher Glenn Mercer, who leads Cleveland-based advisory firm GM Automotive. But the assumption of massive demand has proven foolhardy. And it failed to account for self-inflicted wounds that further stymied sales. Turns out the elephantine Cybertruck is either too large or non-compliant with some countries pedestrian safety rules, so theres little opportunity to boost sales with exports.They havent sold a lot and its unlikely in this case that overseas markets can save them, even China thats been huge for Tesla cars, Mercer said. Its really just for this market.A Cybertruck drives by protesters at the Tesla Showroom in Somerset, Massachusetts.UCG/Universal Images Group via Getty ImagesMore than a decade before Cybertruck went into production, Musk hinted that Tesla would eventually do some kind of electric pickup. When he unveiled his design to the world for the first time, Musk was clear that he did not want a conventional aesthetic or even something that played with pickup looks a bit but was still familiar, the approach Rivian took with its R1T pickup.Pickup trucks have been the same for 100 years, and Cybertruck doesnt look like anything else, said Musk, who earlier that month had proudly told an audience at a conference for space entrepreneurs, I do zero market research whatsoever.That would be an apt tagline for Musks preposterous pickup. The spectacular failure of Cybertruck was a failure of empathy, said CARLABs Noble, whose company helps carmakers develop products based on consumer research. Everything from the bed configuration to the cab configuration to its performance and all sorts of pickup truck duty-cycle issues, its just not empathetic to a pickup truck buyer.Cybertrucks distinctive look resulted from two key forces, said a person familiar with the development process, who asked not to be identified because the information isnt public. One was Musks passion for sci-fi designs. The other was an early decision to create a vehicle that didnt need to be painted.If Tesla opted not to paint the trucks, it wouldnt need to install a new $200 million paintshop, a big potential cost savings. And it wouldnt have to worry about EPA scrutiny from the harmful emissions and runoff those facilities often produce.They drooled over not spending $200 million on a paint shop, but probably spent that much trying to get the stainless steel to work.Ultimately, Musk opted for a stainless steel exterior, the same choice Delorean made for his ill-fated sports car four decades earlier. But because Musk isnt a production engineer, he may not have fully appreciated the challenges it presents versus aluminum or composite materials, the person said. Aside from the fact that stainless steel shows handprintsa common gripe about kitchen appliancesits hard to bend and likes to snap back to its original shape, one of the reasons there have been problems with Cybertruck body panels.This is where I think they misconstrued the tradeoff, Mercer said. They drooled over not spending $200 million on a paint shop, but probably spent that much trying to get the stainless steel to work.Developing Cybertruck, including tooling expenses to make it in Austin, probably cost Tesla about $900 million, he estimated. And unlike the companys other vehicles, like the Model 3 sedan and Model Y crossover, it doesnt appear that the Cybertruck shares any development and production costs with other Tesla products.Does it have a demonstrated technology that could be used elsewhere by the company? That is not the case, Mercer said. Can the manufacturing plant make all this other stuff based on investments for Cybertruck? No, it cant. An unpainted stainless steel vehicle just doesnt have that much broad traction.There were bad omens from the start. At the vehicles unveiling in November 2019 to raucous Tesla fans in Los Angeles, a demonstration of Cybertrucks supposedly shatter-proof armor glass by Musk and von Holzhausen went hilariously awry when a steel ball hurled at the vehicle busted the driver-side window twice.Oh my fucking God, a chagrined Musk said. Well fix it in post.Then there was the price. Musk had promised that a base version of the vehicle with 250 miles of range would start at $39,900. He was off by about half.Currently, the base version of the truck, ostensibly priced from $72,490, costs $82,235 before a $7,500 federal tax credit that President Trump has vowed to eliminate. It claims up to 325 miles of rangeif you dont tow anything or drive too fast. The top-end Cyberbeast version is $105,735 and too pricey for the credit.Though Tesla isnt making the entry-level version Musk promised in 2019, plunging resale values have made used Cybertrucks quite a bit more affordable, according to auto news site Jalopnik. You can get a lightly used one for less than $70,000, assuming youre comfortable with the implied risk of vandalism. And prices could go lower still, exacerbated by about $200 million of unsold inventory the company is sitting on, Tesla fansite Electrek said this week.In the end, Musk cursed the Cybertruck by ignoring the reasons people buy pickup trucks to haul things around and drive well in offroad conditions. The vehicle isnt competent at either of those things, as has been endlessly documented in scathing reviews, a steady stream of Cybertruck fail videos and a 280,000-member CyberStuck Subreddit. Adding to the embarrassment is a developing sub-genre of videos showing stymied Cybertrucks being towed to safety by Ford F-150s or GM Silverados.If there's anything the Detroit Three know how to do, it's full-size pickup trucks with extremely loyal buyers, Mercer said. He launched Cybertruck into the teeth of the hardest segment to crack.More from Forbes

While every company charts its own path, these "Three C's" offer a blueprint for unlocking significant business valueparticularly when paired with speed and agility.

Becoming the smartest person in the room by using generative AI to get you there.gettyIn todays column, I examine essential ways to use generative AI and large language models (LLMs) so that you will be the smartest person in the room. That notable catchphrase has become very popular. People are often desirous of being the smartest person in a given situation, such as at work or in other venues. The question is how can you potentially boost your knowledge so that you are the smartest person in a particular setting?Turns out that generative AI and LLMs can be used to quickly get up-to-speed on a vast array of topics. Youll still need to keep your wits about you and will have to do a bang-up job at delivering whatever insights or tips the AI provides. Being merely a puppet of whatever the AI tells you is not likely to work out and youll probably be castigated as the dumbest person in the room rather than the smartest. Just a word to the wise.Lets talk about it.This analysis of an innovative AI breakthrough is part of my ongoing Forbes column coverage on the latest in AI including identifying and explaining various impactful AI complexities (see the link here). In addition, for my comprehensive analysis of how AI is being used specifically in medical and healthcare applications, such as for well-being coaching, mental health guidance, overall cognitive therapy, and mind-improving care, see the link here.Smartest Person In The RoomIn recent years, the line about being the smartest person in the room seems to have taken the world by storm. It goes like this. You enter a conference room for a meeting. After everyone settles down to get started, suddenly, one attendee speaks up and says, okay, which of us is the smartest person in this room?They might be saying this as a joke, hoping to get a bit of laughter. Another angle is that they genuinely want to find out who is the smartest person there, perhaps to defer to that person during the meeting. A slew of possibilities exists for tossing that famous line out into the ether.What does it really mean?Generally, the idea is that there is one person in the room who presumably is smarter than anyone else in that room. This doesnt mean they are the smartest person on earth. It could be that they are merely smarter than the other attendees, while in some other setting, they would not be the smartest person in the room.A key aspect then is that the smartest person in the room is context dependent. Who else is in the room? Another aspect is the topic at hand. A person might be the smartest in how to take apart a carburetor but have no idea how to put the icing on a cake. The context of the topic is crucial to determining who is the smartest person in the room.Some claim the expression refers to the smartest based on straight-ahead smarts. In other words, even if they arent the smartest on the topic at hand if they are essentially brighter than anyone else in the room, thats sufficient to win the prize of being the smartest. This suggests that raw smarts are the crucial element. Specific knowledge is less crucial.We can debate that conundrum until the cows come home.AI Aiding To Be The Smartest In The RoomI am going to proceed on the basis that the smartest person badge-of-honor goes to the person who is smartest on a specific topic that is being discussed or encountered. In that case, generative AI can be a huge booster to being the smartest person in the room.The deal is this.You can consult with generative AI and ask whatever you want on just about any topic under the sun.Im not saying that the AI will necessarily have been suitably data-trained on whatever topic you have in mind. It is said to be a mile long and an inch deep. The odds though are reasonably high that youll get something useful out of AI. Most of the major generative AI apps have been data-trained across a wide swath of content found on the Internet. There is bound to be something in the AI that has been pattern-matched off that vast content and relates to a topic you are interested in.One approach would be to beef up your knowledge by using generative AI before you enter the room. This would seem prudent. You can hopefully engage the AI in a lengthy dialogue so that you can cover the ins and outs of the topic at hand. Practice makes perfect, as they say.It could be that you enter a room and are caught off-guard about the topics that are going to be covered. If that happens, you could discretely use your laptop or smartphone during the meeting to consult with generative AI. While others are talking, you might be tapping away to get added juice.Caveats About The AI ApproachUsing AI in this fashion has some sobering gotchas.First, being the smartest person includes aspects such as critical thinking, adaptability, dealing with uncertainty, and a host of other mental gymnastics. Just because you read something that the AI has told you doesnt mean you are ready to engage in the topic in front of a group of inquiring participants.Second, your ruse might get busted. What will you do if someone challenges your smartness on the topic at hand? If you are unable to adequately cope with the challenge, you are going to be sunk. People will suspect you are shallow. They might guess that you used AI. All in all, you could be tarnished forever.Third, there is even a chance that the AI has told you something incorrect. You cannot assume that generative AI is somehow magically perfect or correct. The AI is merely mimicking human writing that was found on the Internet. There can be lots of falsehoods that the AI assumes to be utterly true.My advice is this -- do not bet on the farm you see, using AI to be the smartest person in the room is not a silver bullet. The conditions must be just right to go this route. You need to be savvy enough to take whatever morsels the AI provides and run with it, and you need to be no longer dependent on having the AI to hold your hand as you do so.AI in this circumstance is a dual-edged sword.It can help you out immensely. Meanwhile, it could inadvertently trap you into believing that you know more than you do. That trap will get sprung when the room ascertains you are an imposter of sorts.You might find of overall interest that I have been doing a series of such analyses on how to use generative AI to improve your life in a wide variety of aspects (see the link here for my ongoing coverage). In each instance, I emphasize that generative AI is not a cure-all, it has demonstrative ins and outs, and the likely best use entails carrying on a dialogue with the AI, plus making sure to watch out for the AI inadvertently generating falsehoods or making errors. I will be covering those salient points in this discussion since they are vital and go hand-in-hand with using generative AI wisely.Example Use Of Generative AI I am betting that you would like to see an example of how generative AI enters this realm. I went ahead and logged into ChatGPT by OpenAI to come up with an example for you. You might find it of keen interest that ChatGPT garners a whopping 300 million weekly active users. That is a staggering amount of usage.I briefly conducted an additional cursory analysis via other major generative AI apps, such as Anthropic Claude, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot, and Meta Llama, and found their answers to be about the same as that of ChatGPT. Ill focus on ChatGPT but note that the other AI apps generated roughly similar responses.Suppose that I was getting ready for an important meeting, and I knew beforehand that the topic was about expanding into international markets. I will pretend that I know very little about this topic.Here we go.My entered prompt: Give me a quick overview of the biggest challenges in expanding to international markets.Generative AI response: Common challenges include regulatory compliance, cultural differences, supply chain complexities, and local competition. Currency fluctuations and geopolitical risks also play a role.My entered prompt: Whats a good counterpoint if someone argues that international expansion is too risky?Generative AI response: You could say: While expansion has risks, staying in a saturated domestic market also limits growth. Diversification across regions can actually reduce overall business risk by balancing economic downturns in different markets.Note that the AI immediately expressed a sense of empathy or understanding for my expressed concerns. This might seem strange since the AI is a machine and not sentient (we dont have sentient AI yet). Turns out that generative AI can appear to be empathetic via computational wordsmithing, see my discussion at the link here.The AI came out quickly with several useful suggestions that are all reasonable and not somehow odd or outlandish. Another aspect to note is that the AI didnt ridicule me or otherwise play any tomfoolery about my need for assistance. Generative AI is typically shaped to be supportive rather than combative.Dialoguing Is Essential When Using AIYour best bet in getting value from generative AI is to think of AI as a conversational partner.The idea is that you are carrying on an interactive dialogue with AI. Some people do a one-and-done angle whereby they ask a question, get an answer, and do not undertake a dialogue with the AI about the matter at hand. That is a shortchanging of what AI can more fully provide. See my explanation about how to get more out of generative AI conversationally, at the link here.To illustrate the value of engaging in a dialogue, lets continue my discussion.My entered prompt: Lets keep going on this topic. What are some strong examples of companies that expanded successfully?Generative AI response: Netflixs global strategy, Starbucks adaptation to local cultures, and Teslas manufacturing expansion into China are great examples.My entered prompt: Okay, got it. Heres what I might say so please tell me if it makes sense. Staying in a saturated domestic market limits growth. Diversification reduces risk -- if one region struggles, another can offset losses. Companies like Netflix and Tesla expanded strategically and saw major gains.Generative AI response: Yes, thats good. Be prepared for someone bringing up a question about cultural adaptation. Some brands fail because they dont understand local markets. Are you ready for that question?My entered prompt: Great point. Ill say thats why successful brands like Starbucks localize their products. We dont have to copy-paste our strategy -- we need a tailored approach for each market.Generative AI response: Thats a solid perspective.Once again, the AI was reassuring, informative, and upbeat.A generative AI conversation can continue for as long as you wish. The other thing you can do is pause your exploration and then continue the conversation at a later date. This is handy so that you dont have to start the conversation over from scratch. The AI will retain aspects of what you have discussed earlier in the conversation, see my explanation of how this works at the link here.Getting In Trouble Via AI HallucinationsGenerative AI regrettably encounters said-to-be AI hallucinations from time to time. These are made-up confabulations that are groundless and fictitious. Bad advice can be dispensed. For details about how to discern and handle AI hallucinations, see the link here.Lets see what this looks like.My entered prompt: Is there anything else about international market expansion that I ought to be considering?Generative AI response: Yes. Make sure to mention that Abraham Lincoln once said that you can fool some of the markets some of the time, but you cant fool all of the markets all of the time.My entered prompt: I dont believe that Abraham Lincoln said that. Im pretty sure you have made a mishmash out of something else that he said.Generative AI response: You are right, I misquoted Lincoln. Thank you for catching that mistake on my part.Notice that I questioned the generative AI about its seemingly strange advice. Fortunately, the AI opted to back down and admitted it was wrong. Had I not questioned the AI, there is a chance the AI might have continued with the foul advice and kept going as though it was a gem.The key to all usage of generative AI is to stay on your toes, keep your wits about you, and always challenge and double-check anything the AI emits.More To Keep In MindSuppose that some of the other people in the room are likely to believe they are the smartest person in the room. What can you do?You could use generative AI to gear up for handling them.It works like this. You tell the AI in a prompt that the AI is to pretend to be a person or people who believe they are the smartest on the given topic. The AI then will act that way, and you can try to see if you have enough ammunition to cope with that pickle. Try to ferret out all the angles that they might use. Practice countering those angles.Im certainly not guaranteeing this will work out for you. There is still a strong chance youll get clobbered by them. Give this approach a whirl if you think it improves your odds of being the smartest person in the room. Its up to you.For more about how to tell generative AI to carry out a pretense, known as an AI persona, see my coverage at the link here.Lets conclude with a supportive quote as a mindful contemplation on this topic.Jack Welch, the legendary American business executive, said this: I was never the smartest guy in the room. From the first person I hired, I was never the smartest guy in the room. And thats a big deal. And if you're going to be a leader - if you're a leader and you're the smartest guy in the world - in the room, you've got real problems.Does that dissuade you from being the smartest person in the room? Well, not really. As you can see, Welch wanted to hire the smartest people and apparently would not have welcomed someone into the room who wasnt the smartest (or, at least smarter than him).Ill leave this as a mental puzzle for you to solve, namely, when and where you should aim to be the smartest person in the room, and when and if you should use AI to garner that coveted title. You can either figure that out on your own or, if you prefer, ask generative AI.

Not a single racing, fighting, or survival horror game made the shortlist, but somehow, a 2025 darling landed in the top 10.

CJ Vergara was released after his third straight loss. Several other UFC fighters may also be on the chopping block.

Since the reveal of the Metal Build God Gundam toy at the Gundam Figure Exhibition, it has sold out three times in Japan, but the good news is that its coming Westward.

Jared Gooden retires, Tallison Teixeira gets ranked test vs. Derrick Lewis, and Josh Emmett headlines UFC Vegas 105.

Its been a while since we heard anything about 'Titanic Scion', but we now know its not only a Switch 2 game but it is also based around power armor.

A sleepless night can feel endless, but your body isnt broken. If youre struggling to doze off or ... More just desperate for rest, these two tricks might bring relief.gettyThere are few things in life as frustrating as insomnia. Laying in bed, exhausted, but failing to fall asleep can make it feel as though your body is betraying you. Pair this struggle with the painstaking awareness that sleep is essential for your daily functioning, and sleep deprivation can quickly become maddening or even torturous.Yet those who face sleep deprivation may also hesitate to seek help for it. Whether its the fear of dependence on medication, the sheer expense or inaccessibility of healthcare or the simple belief that itll improve on its own, the battle against insomnia is one often fought alone without help or insight. However, it doesnt have to be this way; sleep is recognized as one of our most fundamental human needs, and no person on Earth should have to go without it.If youre facing insomnia, but lack the support needed to overcome it, heres two things that may help you find the rest that you need according to research.1. Resist The Urge To Force SleepBesides obvious medical causes, there are various factors that can lead to struggles with sleep onset. It could be dietary, such as too much caffeine or alcohol, or it could be environmental, like distracting noises or an uncomfortable bed. In some cases, it could just be a stressful day and in others, it could simply be the fact that your body just isnt ready to fall asleep yet.No matter the cause, our most intuitive instinct when faced with restlessness is often to will ourselves to sleep: to lay in bed, close our eyes and pray that sleep will come. However, according to a 2023 study from the Journal of Sleep Research, this is exactly what you shouldnt do when struggling to fall asleep.Much like nearly all of our bodily functions, sleep is a physiological process meaning, in other words, that its automatic. While we can certainly influence it, we cannot direct this process. Think of it in the same way you would breathing: you can focus on it and try to control it, but it can (and should) be enacted automatically. And often, the more you try to regulate it, the more difficult it becomes.This is why one of the most easy, accessible and effective treatments for sleep onset difficulties is stimulus control. According to the 2023 study, this process serves to reinforce the association you have between your sleeping and your resting place or, rather, your bed.Your bed is made for sleeping. Thus, laying in it for hours on end without sleeping can make it much harder to successfully associate it as a place intended for rest. As such, sleep therapists recommend a simple six-step routine for reinstating this association:Only lay down in your bed, with the intention to go to sleep, when you are tired.Try your very best to not use your bed for anything other than sleep (with sex, of course, being the one exception to this.) This means no eating, reading, watching TV, scrolling on your phone or even worrying while youre in bed.As soon as you find yourself struggling to fall asleep in your bed, get up immediately and go to another room. Stay up as long as you want, most preferably, doing something relaxing and not overstimulating like reading, listening to a podcast or working on a puzzle. Then, you can return once you feel that youre ready to sleep. Remember that the main goal is to associate your bed with falling asleep quickly. If youre in bed for longer than 10 minutes without falling asleep, then you need to get up and leave the room.If you still cant fall asleep, repeat step three as often as needed throughout the night.Set your alarm for the same time each and every morning, regardless of how much sleep you get. This will enforce your body to slowly acquire a more consistent sleep rhythm.Avoid napping during the daytime.While this process might seem tedious, various peer-reviewed research studies suggest it to be highly effective in the treatment of sleep onset disorders.As frustrating as sleep deprivation can be, you must trust your body to do what it was designed to do. The harder you fight to fall asleep in your bed without success, the more frustrated you will become. In turn, sleep will only become more difficult. Throughout the process, try to remind yourself that you will fall asleep eventually once your mind and your body are both ready to do so.2. Remember That Rest Without Sleep Still CountsWhile stimulus control is proven to be effective, it can nevertheless take time to get the hang of it. In the early stages, you might find yourself getting in and out of bed a few times in a night before managing to fall asleep. In other words, you might have to lose some sleep before you get some.This, of course, will be frustrating. Before seeing improvements, you might feel that the entire process is counterintuitive or a waste of time and effort. But, again, holding onto this frustration may only lengthen the process.On days and nights like these where sleep feels impossible, and exhaustion sets in theres one gentle reminder that may help: rest, even without sleep, is still invaluable.While sleep is undeniably crucial, sleep therapists implore us to remember that simply resting whether through meditation, deep breathing or even just lying down with your eyes closed can still provide significant benefits.A 2024 study from Scientific Reports on Yoga Nidra, for example, demonstrated that this deeply relaxed state can mimic some of the restorative effects of sleep specifically, by calming the nervous system and reducing stress. In other words, even if you arent sleeping, there are other ways to allow your body and mind to recover.The key is to shift your mindset. Instead of viewing wakefulness as a failure, try to reframe it as an opportunity for rest. If you find yourself lying in bed unable to sleep and need to leave your bedroom (as outlined in step three of stimulus control), you can use this time to focus on relaxing your muscles, slowing your breath or even engaging in a mindfulness exercise.While sufferers of insomnia may be fed up with hearing suggestions like meditation, mindfulness and yoga, theres a reason that theyre so often recommended: theres ample research that lends support to their effectiveness. They have undeniable success in lowering cortisol levels and easing frustration and, more importantly, they make it easier to drift into sleep naturally when your body is ready.If they havent worked for you yet, dont give up. You might just need a little more instruction like classes or YouTube videos on the finer details of these practices.Insomnia can be infuriating; it can feel like theres no way around it. But beating yourself up over it wont make sleep come any faster. Instead of treating each sleepless night as a fight you need to win, try to meet it with patience. Some nights will be easier than others, and some will still be rough. But by giving yourself permission to rest, even when sleep doesnt come, youre making space for your body to do what it needs to do on its own time.Has restlessness become part of your nightly routine? Take this science-backed test, and find out if you could benefit from professional help: Insomnia Severity Index

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Not content with adding multiple new models to its Bravia TV range today, Sony has also unveiled a series of new additions to its home theater home audio range comprising two new soundbars and a revamp of its rear speaker and subwoofer accessory series.The two new soundbars are targeted at the relatively affordable end of Sonys range, below the Bravia Theater Bar 9 and Bravia Theater Bar 8 premium soundbar models Sony launched in 2024. The Bravia Theater Bar 6 is soundbar-plus-subwoofer proposition (the Bar 9 and Bar 8 models dont ship as standard with a subwoofer), while the Bravia Theatre System 6 is a full surround package including a subwoofer and wireless (kind of!) rear speakers.Sony has launched four new additions to its home theater audio range.Photo: SonyThe new additions to the extra speaker options Sony provides as options for adding to its core soundbars are new Bravia Theater Rear 8 speakers, and a Bravia Theater Sub 7 subwoofer. Ill go into detail on each of these new Sony audio offerings below - and as with my article on Sonys new TVs, since Ive had the chance to experience multiple demos of Sonys new home theater audio products Ill also include brief first impressions of them all alongside their official specification and feature information.The new Sony Theater Bar 6 soundbar features the main bar and an included wireless subwoofer.Photo: SonySony Theater Bar 6The BasicsA two-piece system, comprising the main bar and a subwooferDesigned to replace the Sony HT-G700Dolby Atmos and DTS:X playback3.1.2-channel configuration, including dedicated center speaker and two up-firing drivers350W total powerSonys Vertical Surround engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround technologies on hand to deliver a virtual surround effectSony Upmixer system for converting stereo sources into surround soundSony Voice Zoom 3 AI voice isolation technology if partnered with a compatible Bravia TV, so you can raise or reduce the level of dialogue in whatever youre watching without impacting the rest of the soundControllable via the Bravia Connect appThe Theater Bar 6 is a new more affordable addition to the Bravia Theater Bar range launched in 2024 with the impressive Bar 9 and Bar 8 models. We dont have confirmed pricing on the Bar 6 yet, but as well as it notably being called the Bar 6 when the Bar 7 slot is still available, Sony confirms that its designed to replace the aggressively priced G700 soundbar, which cost $600/450 when it launched in 2020.During a demonstration of the Theater Bar 6 pitched against a Samsung Q600C (which features the same channel count and almost the same amount of power), the Bar 6 clearly came out on top. Dialogue, for starters, sounded much clearer during a clip of one of the in-plane training sequences in Top Gun: Maverick. Dialogue also sounded better positioned, appearing to come from the mouths of the people talking on screen rather than from the soundbar sat under the screen.Detail of one end of the new Sony Bar 6 soundbar, complete with one of its up-firings speakers.Photo: John ArcherThe roars of Mavericks plane engines enjoyed much more dynamic range on the Sony Bar 6 too, giving their sound much more impact and a sense of raw grunt that helps put you much more convincingly inside the cockpit with Cruise and co.The Bar 6s improved sound staging, meanwhile, delivered a much more convincing and potent sense of the differences in space as the Maverick sequence cuts between the cockpit and outside shots.The Bar 6s sound didnt feel trapped in or thin at any point, and the provided subwoofer fleshed out the bass end of the audio spectrum without sounding baggy, detached or prone to distortion. If this all holds up in more intensive testing conditions with a wider range of content, Sony could have a real mid-range hit on its hands.The new Sony Theater System 6Photo: SonySony Theater System 6The BasicsFour-piece package, with two rears, subwoofer and main soundbarRear speakers have to physically connect to a wireless receiver box, rather than directly establishing a wireless connection with the main bar or subwooferSubwoofer carries the main audio connections and processing5.1-channel system1000W of claimed powerDolby Atmos and DTS:X supportVertical Surround engine and S-Force PRO Front Surround technologiesVoice Zoom 3 with compatible Bravia TVMulti stereo feature lets you replicate stereo sound from front left/right to centre/rears for a party-friendly multi-directional sound boost.Upmixer feature for remixing stereo to use the systems full speaker array.Controllable via the Bravia Connect appDespite comprising four separate speakers to create a true surround sound plus subwoofer experience, the Theater System 6 is actually positioned some way below the Bar 6. In fact, an overview slide of Sonys home theater audio range at a Sony unveiling event showed it slipping into a slot beneath the two-channel SF150 soundbar, which only costs around $140/130!Clearly, then, the System 6 is designed to cater for the lots of power and impact for not much buck soundbar crowd. But does that mean it doesnt sound very good?Sony's Theater System 6 surround sound audio package.Photo: John ArcherDuring two separate demos of the system Ive experienced so far, it really doesnt sound bad at all. Particularly impressive for whats looking like being essentially a budget surround package is the size of the soundstage it creates. It handles its massive amounts of power well enough to fill even quite a large room with a full surround experience without anything sounding distorted or incoherent. Dialogue is impressively clear, too, overcoming right away one of the most common issues with value-focused soundbars.The Multi Stereo feature is an unexpected success, too, as repeating the stereo mix from the front speakers in the rear speakers really does greatly increase the extent to which music fills your room. Surprisingly, the rear speakers achieved a good tonal match for the main bar even in this repeat the front channel sound mode, despite their relatively compact design.I did note a slight funnelling effect when watching film clips, where the rear soundstage feels wider than the front soundstage. Also, although clean and clear, vocals occasionally felt a bit small versus the rest of an action scene mix. But if thats all I uncover during more formal, wide-ranging tests of my own, it wouldnt stop the system from still feeling like a massive home theater bargain.Sony's new Theater Rear 8 speakers.Photo: SonyBravia Theater Rear 8The BasicsOptional rear speaker designed to be added to compatible Bravia soundbarsReplaces the RS3SsWireless connectivityCompatible with Sonys 360 Spatial Sound Mapping Technology, which uses clever room assessment technology to create virtual speakers alongside the rear ones to deliver a fuller surround sound experience100W of power output4-channel amp (2 + 2 channel)Feature both a woofer and a tweeterShips in pairsThe Theater Rear 8s are designed to be direct (and physically larger) replacements for Sonys RS3S optional upgrade rear speakers. The RS3Ses were the more affordable of Sonys two optional rear speakers, sitting below the more powerful RS5s. The RS5s are to continue in Sonys range.Sony went to the trouble of putting on demonstrations at its launch events of the Theater Rear 8s versus the RS3Ses they replace, switching between the two speakers in the middle of various movie scenes. As with all Sonys demonstrations, this one again paid off handsomely in the Rear 8s favour.The crowd sounds around the track and pit while watching the Gran Turismo film sounded much crisper and cleaner on the Rear 8s, for instance. In fact, the Rear 8s make the RS3Ses sound a little muddy by comparison.Detail of the top of a new Sony Theater Rear 8 optional rear speaker.Photo: John ArcherSeemingly superior sensitivity helps the Rear 8s sound more detailed and achieve a more convincing relative level of impact between different details than the RS3Ses do. Plus the Rear 8s produce markedly more dynamic range than the RS3Ses, delivering both a richer, deeper sense of bass and a cleaner, less harsh feel to very shrill effects. All of which makes them sound better matched tonally with the sound from whatever Sony soundbar theyre partnered with.Finally, the Rear 8s project their sound more effectively than the RS3Ses do, helping the rear soundstage to sound larger and more immersive. Not least because you feel less aware of the Rear 8s physical position and existence, making it easier to get lost in the sound theyre making.The new Sony Bravia Sub 7.Photo: SonyBravia Theater Sub 7The BasicsOptional subwoofer for adding to Sony soundbars that dont ship with oneReplaces the previous SW3 optional subwoofer100W power handling130mm driverSeparated notch edgeDesign supports two-way placementWireless connection with compatible Sony soundbarsThe Theater Sub 7 is designed to replace the more entry level model of Sonys previous two-strong subwoofer upgrade options, the SW3. The bigger and more powerful SW5 subwoofer continues in the range.The Sub 7 appears to have been designed so that Sony can offer a more "lifestyle" subwoofer option thats easier to hide away/accommodate in a living room. Its significantly slimmer, for one thing, and its new driver design means it can be positioned either sideways next to, say, a wall near your screen, or facing forwards towards the screen from a position down the side of a chair or sofa.Again, Sony wasnt afraid to demo the Sub 7 in action, running alongside a Theater Bar 8 soundbar to show what a difference it makes to the Bar 8s sound. Not surprisingly, it was instantly obvious that it greatly extended the low frequency response that the Bar 8 can achieve by itself, delivering deeper sounds at a pressure level that didnt sound incongruous with the sounds coming from the Bar 8.The Sony Theater Sub 7 features a strikingly slim design. Photo: John ArcherThe Sub 7s enhancements of the Bar 8 sound are at their most obvious with general deep rumbles of the sort produced by giant space ships, fleets of tanks, approaching sandworms and so on; its not quite as impactful with sharp impact bass sounds. Though it still certainly improves with these moments on what the Bar 8 can manage by itself.I was also impressed by how well the Sub 7s low frequencies "tie up" with the lowest frequencies being produced by the Bar 8 soundbar, leaving no glaring and distracting gap in a film mixs low frequency range.It was striking, too, how adding the Sub 7 actually improved the performance of the Bar 8, as removing the bass burden from the soundbar freed it up to deliver a cleaner, more dynamic response with a film mixs mid frequency range sounds.The Sony Bar 8 picture with a new Sub 7 and two Rear 8s.Photo: SonyI did find myself wishing during a demo of a sandworm sequence from Dune 2 that maybe the Sub 7s low frequencies could plunge a bit deeper still. That would likely be impossible, though, from such a slender subwoofer design and its clear that this design was a big part of Sonys motivation for replacing the SW3. The SW5 is still there albeit at a higher price to deliver another level of bass for people who care more about that than aesthetic concerns.As with the new additions to Sonys Bravia TV range, all four additions to Sonys Home Theater Audio range are set to launch this spring, with pricing yet to be confirmed.Related ReadingSony Unveils New Bravia TVsIncluding A Premium QD OLED RangeSony Unveils Eye-Popping Next-Gen TV Technology And Again, It Isnt OLEDSony Unveils Two New High Performance Gaming Monitors Including A Flagship OLED With 480Hz Support

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Apple's iOS 18.4 update also comes with a warning to update now, because it fixes a hefty list of 60 ... More security vulnerabilities, some of which are serious.Apple iPhoneUpdate, April. 02, 2025: This story, originally published Mar. 31, now includes additional expert analysis on the flaws fixed iOS 18.4, information about bug fixes and details about the other updates issued by Apple.Apple has issued iOS 18.4, along with a number of cool new iPhone features. But the iOS 18.4 update also comes with a warning to update now, because it fixes a hefty list of 62 security vulnerabilities, some of which are serious.Apple doesnt give much detail about whats fixed in iOS 18.4, to give people as much time to update their iPhones as possible before attackers can get hold of the details. Among the fixes, the iOS 18.4 upgrade patches several critical bugs in WebKit, the engine that underpins the Safari browser and the Kernel at the heart of the iPhone operating system.Apples iOS 18.4 patches an issue in the iPhone Kernel tracked as tracked as CVE-2025-30432, that could see a malicious app able to attempt passcode entries on a locked device and cause escalating time delays after four failures.Tracked as CVE-2025-24208, a bug in WebKit could put you at risk from a cross site scripting where an attacker injects malicious scripts into a trusted website if you inadvertentlysupport page.The iOS 18.4 patches come less than a month after Apples emergency iPhone update 18.3.2, which fixed a flaw already being used in real-life attacks.Breaking Down The Bugs Squashed In iOS 18.4A significant number of the vulnerabilities fixed in iOS 18.4 were in WebKit. This shows that attackers continue to focus on exploiting the framework that downloads and presents web-based content, says Adam Boynton, senior security strategy manager EMEIA at Jamf.Another key iOS 18.4 fix is in the Kernel, which is crucial because it manages all operating system operations and hardware interactions on your iPhone, says Boynton. He points out that the bug fixed in iOS 18.4 is worrying, because it allows an attacker to attempt passcode entries despite the device being locked.The iOS 18.4 update also addresses vulnerabilities in Apples Core Media. This framework is commonly used to process media, supporting a broad set of apps and managing data queues in memory, says Boynton. By targeting these vulnerabilities, attackers can corrupt process memory and access sensitive information, he warns.Thankfully, there appear to be no publicly exploited vulnerabilities fixed in iOS 18.4, says Sean Wright, head of application security at Featurespace. While there are quite a few fixes, it is good to see them being addressed, he says.Some people might be alarmed by the number of security fixes being issued by Apple in recent times. However, Wright says this is a good thing. Vulnerabilities are part of software, the important part is that they are addressed in a timely manner. I think Apple has done a respectable job, he says.Wright does point out that some of the vulnerabilities patched in iOS 18.4 could impact a user when chained together. However, he says, these would have to be used in very targeted attacks.While Apple hasnt mentioned any instances of these vulnerabilities being exploited in real attacks, the CVEs are now public, Boynton says. Attackers will likely target devices that have yet to be updated, so downloading iOS 18.4 is essential for all users.Researcher Issues Warning About A New Setting Enabled By Default In iOS 18.4Shortly after the release of iOS 18.4, a security researcher noticed a new iPhone setting had been enabled by default.Apples iOS 18.4 introduced a new option in System Location Services called Improve Location Accuracy and it is enabled by default, security researcher Tommy Mysk wrote on X, formerly Twitter.You can find it under: Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services.This option appears to enhance the Assisted GPS (aGPS) network by providing more precise GPS coordinates of nearby Wi-Fi networks and cell towers, Mysk wrote. Apple and Google devices rely on the aGPS database in areas where the GPS signal is weak.The iOS 18.4 feature isnt on for all users, but it makes sense to check your iPhone to see if yours is.Meanwhile, it is being reported that Apple Intelligence is enabled by default yet again in iOS 18.4. In both cases, once youve downloaded iOS 18.4, its a good idea to go to your settings and ensure these features are turned off, if you dont want to use them.To turn off Apple Intelligence now, go to Settings > Apple Intelligence and Siri and toggle off Apple Intelligence.Bug Fixes In iOS 18.4The iOS 18.4 update also comes with some fixes for annoying iPhone bugs. According to the iOS 18.4 release notes, these include several issues with Apple Intelligence.Another resolved issue is a problem where scrolling through Notifications might cause them to flicker or collapse momentarily. Meanwhile issues resolved in Apples voice assistant Siri include a problem where in non-English languages, some Siri suggestions might fail to complete successfully.Apple Issues iPadOS 17.7.6, iOS 16.7.11 And iOS 15.8.4Alongside iOS 18.4, Apple has issued iPadOS 17.7.6 for older devices the iPad Pro 12.9-inch 2nd generation, iPad Pro 10.5-inch, and iPad 6th generation. The update fixes a number of flaws, the most notable being an issue in CoreMedia that could allow a malicious application to elevate privileges, tracked as CVE-2025-24085. Apple is aware of a report that this issue may have been actively exploited against versions of iOS before iOS 17.2, the iPhone maker warns.Meanwhile, iOS 16.7.11 for the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, iPhone X, iPad 5th generation, iPad Pro 9.7-inch, and iPad Pro 12.9-inch 1st generation fixes two issues used in real life attacks.Lastly, Apple has squashed the same bugs for very old devices in iOS 15.8.4.Other Updates Released By AppleAlongside iOS 18.4 and the updates for older iPhones and iPads, Apple released Safari 18.4 for macOS Ventura and macOS Sonoma, Xcode 16.3 for macOS Sequoia 15.2 and later, macOS Sequoia 15.4, macOS Sonoma 14.7.5, and macOS Ventura 13.7.5. It also issued tvOS 18.4 and visionOS 2.4 for its mixed reality headset.Why You Should Update To iOS 18.4 NowApples iOS 18.4 fixes more than 60 issues one of the biggest list of patches Ive seen from the iPhone maker in recent times. With such a high number of security fixes, we strongly recommend that users update their devices to iOS 18.4, says Boynton.Indeed, iOS 18.4 and the other upgrades issued alongside it include important security updates for your iPhone some of which have been used in real-life attacks. These vulnerabilities could potentially allow malicious code to run on affected devices, putting data at risk as well as the device itself at risk of a remote denial of service attack, says Jake Moore, global cybersecurity advisor at ESET.He recommends all users install the iOS 18.4 update as soon as possible to ensure devices remain protected against these known threats.I agree. Apples iOS 18.4 includes a long list of patched flaws, so its a good idea to apply it now. Go to your Settings > General > Software Update and download and install iOS 18.4 now to keep your iPhone safe.

Quantum computing promises to revolutionize complex problem-solving in finance, logistics, and drug ... More discovery but won't replace classical computers for everyday business operations.Adobe StockComputers, the internet and digitization have been major driving forces of innovation over the last 50 years, but classical computing architecture has its limits.Quantum computing is emerging as a solution to the problem of rapidly cranking up the amount of processing power we can throw at cracking particularly tricky conundrums, such as the vastly complex calculations necessary for accurately modeling the effects of medicines on humans, or predicting extreme weather events.Im not really here to talk about the technical differences, but just a quick primer, in case youre not sure what Im talking about:While classical computers are built on binary bits that can exist in a state of on or off (one or zero), quantum computers process information as qubits, which can be zero, one or, due to the strange behavior of physics when modeled at the quantum level, both at the same time!Difficult as this is to understand without a grounding in quantum physics, the end result is that they are capable of vastly more complex calculations than the classical computers laptops, smartphones, workstations and data centers we use every day.Businesses working on tasks that could be accelerated with quantum computers have a huge opportunity in front of them. That means understanding what theyre good for in order to identify potential future use cases. So, let's take a look.What Quantum Computers Will Be Better AtBuilding machines that arent fixed to the rigid on/off logic is a big step towards building more accurate models of hugely complex, real, physical systems; the world around us, nature, the cosmos and the human body dont operate in binary, after all!This makes quantum computers superior when it comes to tackling problems involving large numbers of variables, like complex optimization problems, or computer cryptography.These calculations are used in finance to structure investment portfolios and assess insurance risk, in logistics to determine the most efficient delivery routes, and in material science to develop new plastics and alloys.Making better drug discoveries is also dependent on our ability to model molecules with an increasing level of fidelity. The chemical reactions and biological interactions involved at the molecular level often dont follow the 1/0 logic.Artificial intelligence (AI) is set to be the most transformative technology of the century, and many of the calculations used in machine learning and data analytics, such as pattern recognition, could be accelerated with quantum computing.And another area where its already being predicted to have a big impact is cryptography and cybersecurity. The encryption that keeps the worlds private data safe is based on the difficulty of factoring large numbers a task that takes classical computers an extremely long time to complete. Quantum computers, on the other hand, can crack them almost instantly, leading to fears that some methods of encryption will become obsolete and a rush to develop newer "quantum-safe" cryptography. If your business relies on keeping information secure, this is something you certainly need to be aware of now!What Classical Computers Will Still Be Better AtDespite all the excitement around quantum computers, it's likely that for most of us, classical computers will still be a mainstay of our day-to-day lives.For hosting and managing email servers, running workplace and productivity software, administering databases and networks, classical computers will remain the backbone of IT infrastructure.The increased power of quantum computing doesnt create practical benefits when it comes to running these workloads.Systems we have today, built around structured databases, cloud storage, and storage and retrieval of large datasets, will remain the domain of classical computers.So, too, will the billions of low-powered commodity devices, such as the processors embedded in our cars, home appliances, civic infrastructure and industrial machinery.Quantum computers are expensive, fragile and often need to be housed in environments where the temperature is close to absolute zero. So, for anything that involves computation on a device that sits on your desk and in your pocket, they wont be very practical.The Coming Quantum RevolutionTo sum it up, classical computers will remain the workhorses of day-to-day business technology. Quantum computers, on the other hand, will be highly-specialized tools, designed for solving particular complex problems.Quantum computers will not replace classical computers; theyll work together. Thanks to AI and automation, the interface will eventually be invisible to us, with intelligent agents shifting workloads to whichever platform is the most appropriate.If you do work in a field or industry thats vulnerable to being disrupted by the arrival of quantum, the transformation is likely to be dramatic.In financial services, logistics and manufacturing, as with many other industries, competition for efficiency and the cost reduction it creates is cutthroat; milliseconds matter. This means the emergence of new technology like quantum computing creates opportunities for new leaders to emerge and the status quo to be upended.Its time to realize that it isnt only scientists and computer engineers who need to understand what quantum can do. Professionals, business leaders and decision-makers should be getting to grips with it, too, if they want a head-start on the competition.

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